Mixing and dispensing device



y 23, 1944. M. HICKEY 2,349,623

MIXING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Original Filed June 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 IN ENTO& Jo/l/v ICKEY Y @wdia A TTOE/VEY J. J. HKIZKEY 2,349,623

MIXING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Original File d June 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTaE/VEY Patented May 23, 1944 J 01in. J. Hickey, Arlington, N. J.

Original applications June 1942,, Serial No. 446,424, and June 10, 1942, Serial No. 446,426. Divided and thisapplication October 10, 1942,

Serial No. 461,540

3 Claims.. (Cl. 273-144) This invention relates to a mixing devicev and refers more particularly to devices for mixing; raising and dispensing a plurality of elements, such as balls, chips, or the like,

The present. application isa division of my copending patent applications, Ser. Nos. 446,424 and 446,426, relating to Machines for playing games, and Machines for playing bridge, respectively. These applications have now matured into P at. ents 2,334,092 and 2,334,094, respectively; issued Nov. 9, 1943.

An object of the present invention is the Pro. vision of a device which is simple in construc-- tion and effective in operation, which may be used in various games wherein the mixing and dispensing of certain elements is required, and which may serve as a substitute for the manual drawing of one of a number ofelements.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a mixingand dispensing device which is so constructed that the elements to be mixed are raised during the mixing from their lowermost positions and are dispensed or withdrawn from the device in their uppermost positions.

Other objects will become apparent, in the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the objects of the presentinvention, it was found desirable to construct. a mixing device in the form of arotary cylinder or wheel containing radially directed bafliesor partitions capable of stirring the elements tobe mixed, which preferably have. the form of small balls. The bafiies are preferably so constructed that they mix the balls when the wheel is rotated in one direction, and that they raise the balls to an uppermost position within the wheel when the latter is rotated in the opposite direction, whereupon the balls may roll toward an exit of the mixing device.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure I is a central vertical section through a mixing device constructed in accordance with, the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section through the mixing device along theline 2-2 of- Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of wasomewhat differently constructed mixing device.

Figure 4 is acentral vertical section through the mixing device shown in? Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5. or Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment ofa mixing device to a playing table.

Figure 7, is a centra vertical section along the line l'! of Figure 8;

, Figure 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

A casing which includes, a rotary cylinder or drum 2.1,. a rotary casing 21, having therorm of. the cylinder which is open on one side. This open sideis. closed by an immovablewall [Shaving an upper opening I1 and. alower opening [6.

The mixing device may be used for. mixing and selectively dispensing a plurality of elements 20 which may have. the form of small colored balls and/ or which may be provided with any typeof suitable indicia. The balls 29 may be hollow and may contain a writing or the like.

The rotary casing 27 is keyed upona shaft 351 which. is mounted in a support 3| constituting a part of the immovable wall It. A crank 32 isused. to rotate the shaft 39 and thevcasing 21 connected therewith,

The inner rim. of. the casing 21 carries a plurality of baflies 33' each of which has a straight portion 35' Which is attached to the. casing, and a hook-shaped portion 36', provided with a surface M which is inclined in the direction toward the wall l8 and the exit opening ll. 7

The wheel may be rotated in opposite directions and it may contain a large number of balls 26. When the wheel is rotated in the direction of the arrow iii, the baffles 33 will lift some of the balls and drop the raised balls on top of the mass of other balls, thereby rotating the whole massand mixing the. balls thoroughly. When the-wheel is rotated in the direction of the arrow It, the hookeshaped portions 36 of, thebaiiies 33 will carry the balls upwardly until a ball is brought opposite the opening, IT. If the wheel 27 is stopped in that position,,the ball will roll upon the inclined surface 34 and out of the opening H;

In operation, the balls 2i! are inserted into the mixing'device through a lower opening It. Then the wheel 21 is rotated in the direction of the arrow l5, whereby the mass of balls 23 situated within the wheel 21' will be thoroughly agitated and mixed. Then the user rotates the crank 3-2stepwise in the opposite direction, namely, in the directionof the arrow [4; whereupon the balls are lifted to the level of the opening IT and roll'outzof. the device through that opening;

A mixing wheel shown in Figures 3, 4 and has a casing which includes a cylindrical drum or wheel I06 rotatable along with a central shaft I05 which carries a crank H5. The shaft I05 is carried by a wall I03 of a casin which also includes a round portion I38 partly enclosing the rotary casing I06, and a lower,box-like portion I02. The wall I03 isprovided with an upper opening I00 and a lower opening NH.

The wheel I06 has four partition walls I01. The balls 20 may be introduced in the lower portion of the wheel and are raised in the pockets H4 of the walls I07 by the rotation of the wheel I06 in the direction of the arrow H0. The balls are guided into the pockets H4 by inclined surfaces Of the partition walls I0'I. Each pocket H4 is open on one side to receive the balls.

When the wheel I06 is rotated in the opposite direction, namely, in the direction of the arrow III, the walls I01 will mix and shuflle the balls 20 situated in the wheel I06.

Two metal strips H2 and I I3 situated in the wheel I 06 are sufficiently wide to cover the pockets H4 of the walls I01, and have elongated slots I I6 and I II, respectively, through which the shaft I05 extends. The pockets H4 are dimensioned to hold one ball each. As the wheel I06 rotates in the direction of the arrow H0, a strip drops by gravity and closes a pocket H4 when that pocket is'in the lower position, thereby entrapping the ball in the pocket. The ball is raised and the strip is turned by the further rotation of the wheel, whereupon the strip drops again by gravity and opens the pocket when the pocket is near its highest position. Thus the balls are singled out of the pockets H4 and are released one at a. time into the exit opening I00.

The rear wall of the wheel I06 may be provided with four holes I31, situated opposite the pockets H4. The crank H5 may be eliminated and the wheel I06 may be conveniently rotated by an operator who may insert his finger into one of the holes I3'I. The stationary casin portion I38 may be provided with indicia I 39 at its top which is 50 located that one ball will be dealt through the opening I00 whenever a hole I3! is brought opposite the indicia I39.

The wheels 23 and I06 ma be operated by electric power in lieu of the hand crank operation.

These mixing and dealing wheels may be used as number selecting devices for the purpose of selecting a lot, or a winning ticket or number out of a large mass of tickets sold by churches, fraternal societies and the like. For that purpose, large wheels may be used and the balls may be numbered to correspond with the numbers on the tickets sold. The operations including the movement of the balls into the wheel, the mixing of the balls when the wheel is turned in one direction, and the allocation and discharge of the balls singly when the wheel is turned in the opposite direction, can by appropriate construction of the apparatus be concealed towhatever extent is desired, or made visible in whole or in part. Thus the selection of the winning numbers would be wholly mechanical and without the contact of the human hand, but each step of the process may be made visible.

Figures 6, '7 and 8 show the manner in which a mixing wheel 21 may be attached to a side of a playing table 38. The mixing wheel has the form of a cylindrical casing which is open on the side directed toward the table, so that the interior the wheel and connected to the table. The shaft 30 is also mounted in a wall 29 constituting a part of the table top. The handle 32 is used to rotate the shaft 30 and the casin 27 connected therewith.

The rim of the casing 21 carries a plurality of baflles 33, which are similar to those shown in Figure 2.

The wheel 23 may be rotated in opposite directions and may contain a substantial number of balls 20. When the wheel is rotated in one direction, the baffles 3| will lift some of the balls which rest in the casing, and drop them on top of the mass of balls, thereby rotating the whole mass of balls and mixing it thoroughly.

When the wheel is rotated in the opposite direction, the hook-shaped portions 36 of the baflies 33 will entrap some of the balls and raise them, while continuing to mix the mass of balls. Due to the inclination of the surfaces 34 upon which the balls rest, the balls will roll out of the wheel 21 and upon the table top 26. There the balls may be played or dealt to the players by any suitable device not shown in the drawings.

It is apparent that the machines shown above have been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, and that the above described illustrations are subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the scope or intent of the present invention as defined by the claims. All of such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1 A mixing and dispensing device. comprising a hollow wheel casing, means connected with said casing for rotating the same in opposite directions, means situated within said casing and having surfaces engaging and mixing balls situated within said casing when the casing is rotated'in one direction, and further having pockets formed therein for selectively holding a predetermined number of said balls to raise the same when the casing is rotated in the opposite direction, and means covering each pocket during a part of the lower portion of its rotary movement and uncovering it during the upper portion of its rotary movement for selectively raising the balls in said pockets and dispensing the raised balls.

2. A mixing and dispensing device comprising a casing including a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis, means connected with said drum for rotating the same in opposite directions, and battles arranged within the drum and rotatable therewith and having surfaces facing in one direction of rotation of the drum for engaging. and mixing'balls contained within the drum when the drum is rotated in that direction, and said bafiles also having pockets formed therein and communicating with the drum and facin in the opposite direction of rotation of the drum for selectively gathering a pre-determined number of balls from the drum and raising the selected balls from a'lower to a higher portion of the drum when the drum is rotated in the second-named direction, said casing having an inlet for the introduction of balls into the drum and an outlet, the latter being located at a level above the axis of the drum in the path of rotation of the pockets for the discharge of the selected balls from the pockets through said outlet.

3. A mixing and dispensing device comprising a casing including a stationary wall and a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis, said drum being closed at one side and having an open side substantially closed by the stationary wall, means connected with said drum for rotating the same in opposite directions, and an annular series of baflles arranged within the drum and rotatable therewith and having surfaces facing in one direction of rotation of the drum for engaging and mixing balls contained within the drum when the drum is rotated in that direction, and said bafiles also having pockets formed therein and communicating with the drum and facing in the opposite direction of rotation of the drum for selectively gathering a pre-determined number of balls from the drum and raising the selected balls from a lower to a higher portion of the drum when the drum is rotated in the second-named direction, each pocket having a discharge side facing the stationary wall and a sloping surface inclim'ng downwardly toward said discharge side, the said stationary wall being provided with an inlet for the introduction of balls into the lower portion of the drum and an outlet, the latter being located at a level above the axis of the drum and in the path of rotation of the pockets for the discharge of the selected balls from the discharge sides of the pockets therethrough.

JOHN J. HICKEY. 

